Twenty-two people (including an 8-year-old girl) were killed in a terrorist bombingย last night at Manchester Arena in England following an Ariana Grande concertโISIS has claimed responsibility, and a suspect has been arrested. Social media has been filled with messages of support for the victims and frantic pleas to help find those missing.
And then there was David Leavitt.
The freelance writer for outlets like CBS, AXS and Yahoo was widely criticized for posting these tweets when the attack news broke:
Honestly, for over a year I thought an Ariana Grande was something you ordered at Starbucks.
— David Leavitt ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ (@David_Leavitt) May 22, 2017
Too soon?
— David Leavitt ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ (@David_Leavitt) May 23, 2017
While the initial tweet has been deleted, the latter two are still up.
Leavitt dug himself an even deeper hole when he tried to apologize and then asked the haters to donate to charity:
https://twitter.com/David_Leavitt/status/866820610869137412
Imagine if everyone who cursed at me donated a nickel to charity? https://t.co/28rFFSVx7y
— David Leavitt ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ (@David_Leavitt) May 23, 2017
Wow you guys broke the Red Cross website! You can call your donations in at 1-800-RED-CROSS pic.twitter.com/Enr17lKl8V
— David Leavitt ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ (@David_Leavitt) May 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/chrissahardy/status/866895872247840768
Dude. Stop digging. pic.twitter.com/YOqKafxE3s
— แดแดแด แดสแดแดษด (@JoeAlton) May 23, 2017
Leavitt’s latest tactic is to feel sorry for himself, which unsurprisingly is not going over well:
And now I have a small insight of what Donald Trump must deal with on a regular basis #ImpeachTrump
— David Leavitt ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ (@David_Leavitt) May 23, 2017
i hope your punch dodging skills are just as shitty as your future in journalism.
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) May 23, 2017
Several outlets which Leavitt has written for are now attempting to distance themselves from him:
.@David_Leavitt does not work for @CBSNews.
— CBS News PR (@CBSNewsPress) May 23, 2017
This person has never been employed by AXS. We don't endorse this despicable comment.
— AXS (@axs) May 22, 2017
All of the stories Leavitt wrote for a CBS Boston affiliate have been deleted from its siteโthe link to his author page now redirects to the CBS homepage.
Yahoo did not respond to an Observer request for comment on Leavitt’s employment status. Leavitt also did not respond to a request for comment.
